What's happened
Keir Starmer's comments at a conference of centre-left leaders in Canada, where he expressed Labour's desire to maintain close ties with the EU and not diverge from EU laws.
Why it matters
The remarks by Keir Starmer are significant as they indicate a potential shift in Labour's position on post-Brexit relations with the EU. This could have implications for the party's stance on key issues such as trade and regulatory alignment.
What the papers say
The Times reports that Keir Starmer's comments go beyond Labour's official position on post-Brexit relations with the EU, suggesting a desire for close ties and alignment with EU laws. The Independent highlights Starmer's statement that Labour does not want to diverge from EU rules and suggests that this approach could smooth relations with the bloc. Politico notes that Starmer emphasized the need for common ground between the UK and the EU and expressed a commitment to maintaining high standards. The comments are likely to reignite debate about the nature of post-Brexit relations with Brussels, according to The Independent.
How we got here
Keir Starmer's comments come after previous statements indicating Labour's intention to seek an improved trading relationship with the EU if they were to form the next government. France and Germany have also proposed offering Britain 'associate membership' of the EU, adding to the discussion on the future relationship between the UK and the bloc.
More on these topics
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The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists.
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.